A study, released yesterday,  is shedding light on the types of interactions members of the black community in the  Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have with police officers.

More than 50 per cent of those surveyed said they have been stopped by police in public places and that number jumps to nearly 80 per cent among males between the ages of 25 and 44.

The findings come only a day after a Toronto police officer was charged after a 19 year old black man was beaten and blinded in one eye.

After more than seven years of research, interviews, and community engagement, “The Black Experience Project” study, as it is called, released its findings, aiming to answer the central question: “What does it mean to be black in the GTA?”

According to the study, the GTA is home to more than 400,000 people who self-identify as black, nearly half of Canada’s total black population — which has more than tripled in the last 30 years.

Launched in 2010, the study, led by Environics in partnership with various community groups, including the United Way and YMCA, interviewed more than 1,500 participants who self-identified as black. They were asked questions about identity, racism in school and workplaces, community engagement, friendships and police interactions.

The goal of the project is to help the broader community understand and appreciate the diversity and vibrancy of the black community.